The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and its Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission (EOMAC) are pleased to recognize members of the Valley’s Congressional delegation who helped secure more than $16 million for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) and the Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center.

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and its Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission (EOMAC) are pleased to recognize members of the Valley’s Congressional delegation who helped secure more than $16 million for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) and the Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center.

YARS, which generates approximately $100 million per year for the local economy, will receive $8.8 million for infrastructure improvements to increase security, which is necessary to help protect the facility against base realignment and closure. Camp Ravenna will receive $7.4 million for a weapons range.

Both projects were announced by Congressman Tim Ryan, D-Howland, on May 10. Congressman Ryan is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, which included the funding.

Abruzzino also pointed out that the Valley delegation has been leading the charge to attract a multi-billion-dollar missile defense site to Camp Ravenna and is attempting to secure new aircraft for YARS. Securing more funding and policy favoring these facilities will be among the top priorities during the Valley’s inaugural D.C. Fly-in June 20-21.

“The Fly-In gives our business, government and community leaders an opportunity to amplify the voices of our elected members of Congress,” said Regional Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Guy Coviello. “We are grateful for everything the delegation has provided and look forward to the Fly-In to show all the federal officials how serious this community is about working with them.”

The Portage Development Board and Greater Cleveland Partnership are among the organizations supporting the effort to convince Washington that Camp Ravenna is the best location for the ground-based missile defense site. Of the three locations under consideration, including Fort Drum in New York and Fort Custer in Michigan, the northeast Ohio advocates, as well as Riki Ellison, founder and chairman of the nonprofit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, contend that Camp Ravenna is best.

“We appreciate the Ohio members of Congress who have made the Camp Ravenna weapons range possible,” said Portage Development Board President Bradford Ehrhart. “We are also thrilled to see the entire Ohio delegation provide so much support for the effort to land the missile defense site. It’s a project that could transform our community and impact the entire State of Ohio.”